If you understand good cat care, you will have yourself a wonderful pet. If you own a cat, you need to educate yourself about tips and information to make sure your cat lives happily. Read these tips to be the best cat owner you can be.
Keep your cat from having a shocking experience by spraying electrical cords with bitter apple. If that doesn’t work, cover those cords up however you can. Hide those loose cords and keep them out of sight in no longer needed paper towel rolls. If you own electronic devices with thin cords, you should keep them out of your cat’s reach when you’re not using them.
Some male cats get urinary crystals, but this is preventable with proper diet. It is painful for your cat to pass these crystals and the cost to have this treated by a vet is high. To stop this from happening, make sure your cat’s food doesn’t have much magnesium in it. Just as in the grocery store, take the time to read the labels. Fish products are usually higher in magnesium.
Cats are usually great for kids, but smaller kids may be too rough with them. It is important that you teach children how to properly interact with a new cat. Spend some time showing them how to lift a cat and how they can interact with the cat. A cat’s bones can be quite fragile and they need to be treated gently.
Get your feline acclimated to its carrier. Understand that cats don’t react to punishment as well as dogs. Positive reinforcement is a better training tool for cats. Give your cat a treat every time it does something well. Eventually, the cat will go into the carrier naturally and feel comfortable. This will make getting the cat inside easier later.
Feed your cat high-quality cat food. Your cat needs a lot of protein from meat, so read the labels before you choose a food. Stay way from cat foods made of corn or any other ingredients that aren’t based in protein. Your cat is a carnivore, and for proper nutrition, he should have a food high in animal protein in order to keep him at his best.
Drinking Fountain
Purchase a drinking fountain for your cat. Cats like running water in the wild, as well as in the home. Normally, cats much prefer water that comes out in a stream. Actually, you will see many cats prefer running tap water from the sink instead of the water bowl. Installing a drinking fountain for your cat is a more eco-friendly way to provide it with some running water.
Feed canned food to your cat. Dry food can be less costly, but there are quite a few benefits to canned food. They have more water, protein and fat too. It’s also much softer on older teeth if your cat is getting up there in years. Talk to your vet, but canned food is generally superior for your cat.
Always make sure that your cat has on identification tags and a collar. This is important even if your pet lives indoors. Cats are curious creatures, and you never know when they might wander off to explore. The identification tags should contain your home phone number and the number for your veterinarian. This is especially true for cats with medical conditions.
Let your cat take its time when you add a new cat to your home. The cats might hiss, swat and hide from each other at first. However, if you allow them to slowly get used to each other, they will eventually become friends.
Your cat needs good play time. It is pretty normal for all different types of species to have an inner desire to play. An aging cat may not have as much energy as a kitten, however it will still enjoy a little light playtime. Make sure you spend time doing fun things with your cat.
Haired Cats
Long-haired cats require more care than their short-haired comrades. Long-haired cats are beautiful animals, but keep in mind that they will shed everywhere in your home. You should not get a cat with long-hair unless you are ready to do a lot of cleaning. Not to mention cats that have long hair are more prone to getting issues with hairballs.
Make sure you put your catbox in the optimal location. Many people want it in an out of the way spot. The litter box needs to be placed in a spot that your cat can reach very easily. Cats are finicky, so you must provide an environment that is not inconvenient or off-putting to the animal. The area around the litter box should be comfortable and warm to walk on, so make adjustments as needed.
A cat can be a great pet, but you should know how to properly care for it. You’ve read this article in full as you want to be a more responsible pet owner. With good, solid practices and lots of love, you can have a truly happy cat that lives a long life.